FORT WORTH (KFDX/KJTL) — The capital murder trial of James Irven Staley, III, for the death of 2-year-old Jason Wilder McDaniel, is set to continue with testimony on the seventh day of proceedings at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in Tarrant County.

Tuesday, March 7, 2023, marks the seventh day of testimony in the trial, which began on Monday, February 27, 2023. On Monday, March 6, and at the beginning of testimony on Tuesday, March 7, Amber McDaniel, Wilder’s mother, took the witness stand.

A running live blog of Tuesday’s testimony can be found below. This story will be updated frequently as testimony and cross-examination of various witnesses progress.

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Judge Everett Young dismissed the jury, and the court was dismissed into recess until Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at 9 a.m.

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Prosecutor Lisa Tanner passes the witness to the defense team for further cross-examination. 

5:20 p.m. — Prosecutor Lisa Tanner questioned Angela Thomas about amelogenin DNA testing, which indicates the sex chromosomes of particular DNA samples. Angela Thomas testified that the samples she tested all had male chromosomes.

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Defense attorney Mark Daniel passes the witness back to the State for further questioning. 

5:18 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel continued to question Angela Thomas about the various ways that the DNA of Wilder McDaniel as well as James Staley could have ended up on various items collected as evidence. Angela Thomas verified there are numerous ways this could’ve occurred.

5:11 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel questions Angela Thomas about the possibility of transference of DNA of evidence packaged together. Thomas testified that it is possible.

5:08 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel questions Angela Thomas about DNA and whether or not we can tell when DNA was deposited. Thomas testified that you cannot.

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Prosecutor Lisa Tanner passes the witness to the defense team for cross-examination. 

5:05 p.m. — Testimony resumed with Prosecutor LIsa Tanner going over other spots on evidence submitted to SWIFS where DNA was collected and analyzed.

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Judge Everett Young dismisses the jury, then the gallery. Testimony is set to resume following a short recess. 

4:54 p.m. — Angela Thomas testified that of the four samples of DNA taken from the pillow found in Wilder’s crib, she was able to exclude Amber McDaniel’s DNA. She said the only DNA found on the parts of the pillow she tested was that of Wilder and Staley. The pillow was found in the home of Staley, and there could be plenty of innocent explanations as to why Staley’s DNA was found on the pillow. Thomas testified they cannot determine when that DNA was placed on the object.

4:48 p.m. — Angela Thomas testified that the DNA found on the sample of the sheet was compared to Wilder McDaniel’s DNA sample, and the probability that anyone else would have that same DNA profile was one in 12 trillion, essentially confirming the blood on the sheet found in the crib was in fact Wilder McDaniel’s blood.

4:43 p.m. — Angela Thomas testified as to how DNA evidence is determined to be a match. She testified that a statistic is generated that determines the strength of that DNA match. The higher the statistic, the more certain they are that the DNA is essentially a match.

4:40 p.m. — Angela Thomas testified that the known samples of DNA she worked with were samples from Jason Wilder McDaniel, Amber Odom McDaniel, and James Irven Staley, III. Wilder’s sample was taken during his autopsy, and Amber and Staley’s samples were taken from the inside of their cheek, also called buckle samples. Thomas testified that touch DNA is sometimes referred to as handler DNA.

4:38 p.m. — Angela Thomas testified that several series of DNA tests were conducted by herself and another analyst for SWIFS. Thomas testified she conducted the first two analyses. She testified that she was able to get results. She testified that she got some complete DNA profiles as well as some possibly incomplete DNA profiles.

4:35 p.m. — Angela Thomas testified that she was requested to provide DNA analysis in the investigation into the death of Wilder McDaniel.

4:33 p.m. — Angela Thomas explained to the jury the process by which STR DNA testing is conducted. STR DNA, Thomas explained, is the parts of DNA that are unique from individual to individual.

4:28 p.m. — Prosecutor Lisa Tanner questioned Angela Thomas about the processes by which they preserve the integrity of DNA samples, as well as the processes by which they are able to use DNA evidence as an aide in solving crimes.

4:25 p.m. — Thomas testified that she’s served as a witness in trials many times. Thomas explained to the jury what DNA is. She testified that identical twins are the only humans who can possibly have the same DNA and that in every other case, every human being has different DNA. Thomas testified that DNA between different types of cells is consistent throughout one particular human. For example, a person’s DNA will be the same whether the sample tested is blood or skin cells.

4:23 p.m. — Angela Thomas testifies that she is a DNA analyst at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences and has been employed there since 2006. She is also certified to conduct serology. Prosecutor Lisa Tanner has apparently worked with this expert before, as she congratulated her for becoming certified in DNA.

The State, represented by Prosecutor Lisa Tanner, calls Angela Thomas to take the stand. The witness is sworn in by Judge Everett Young.

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Judge Everett Young excuses the witness. Judge Everett Young informs the State of Texas they may call their next witness. 

4:20 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel again asks if it’s possible for DNA to transfer based on a simple touch, and Audrey Basse said it is possible.

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Prosecutor Lisa Tanner passes the witness to the defense team for further cross-examination. 

4:17 p.m. — Audrey Basse testified that it’s not uncommon for evidence to be packaged together. Some comments were made by Prosecutor Lisa Tanner about how one should react to law enforcement officials requesting testing that SWIFS does not do.

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Defense attorney Mark Daniel passes the witness back to the State for further questioning. 

4:14 p.m. — Audrey Basse testified that DNA evidence doesn’t necessarily have a timeline, and they cannot determine when the DNA was placed on the pillow. Defense attorney Mark Daniel claimed that people leave genetic material all over their own homes, which Basse later confirmed was possible.

4:12 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel said Det. Chad Nelson submitted evidence to the SWIFS lab and requested the saliva testing that SWIFS doesn’t do. Audrey Basse testified that the test was required and that they do not do that type of testing.

4:05 p.m. — Audrey Basse testified that it is “possible” for the transference of genetic material by surfaces touching when packaged together as evidence.

4:03 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel asked about Audrey Basse’s process in the lab to prevent cross-contamination of evidence. Daniel asked if Basse was aware that the pillow was packaged with other pieces of evidence. Basse testified that they do receive items packaged together frequently, and she said that it’s noted in their report due to the possibility of the transference of genetic material.

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Prosecutor Lisa Tanner passes the witness to the defense team for cross-examination. 

3:58 p.m. — Audrey Basse testified that saliva testing is not performed at SWIFS, nor has it been during her tenure, nor was it before she came to be on staff at SWIFS.

3:56 p.m. — Prosecutor Lisa Tanner questioned Audrey Basse about the different forms of testing that went into the formation of her serology report. Basse noted seven analyses that are performed.

3:52 p.m. — Audrey Basse noted several other areas on the pillow where positive tests were rendered for the presence of human blood, and some were further swabbed for the presence of touch DNA. Basse noted there was also a blood stain on the opposite side of the pillow from where a majority of the other presumptive positive tests for blood were rendered.

3:49 p.m. — Audrey Basse noted several indicator stickers throughout the pillow. Basse testified that she tested all stains that appeared to be blood, and collected one sample that tested positive for the presence of human blood. The sample cut away from the pillow was part of a larger stain on the pillow. Basse noted several areas on the pillow were samples were collected to test for the presence of touch DNA, or possible skin cells that may have been left behind by anyone who may have handled or touched the pillow.

3:45 p.m. — Prosecutor Lisa Tanner shows Audrey Basse the pillow taken from Wilder’s crib. Basse confirms this is the pillow she tested. Basse testified there were a number of stains on the pillow that appeared to be blood. A diagram of all of Basse’s tests on the pillow is admitted into evidence without objection from the defense.

3:41 p.m. — Audrey Basse testified that she received fingernail clippings from the autopsy of Wilder McDaniel. She said the fingernails were tested for the presence of blood, and then swabbed for skin cells that may have been left behind. Spots were found on fingernails from Wilder’s left hand that rendered a presumptive positive result for the presence of human blood. She said the remainder of the fingernails on the left hand were preserved to test for the presence of skin cells left behind.

3:39 p.m. — Prosecutor Lisa Tanner had Audrey Basse analyze the fitted sheet from the crib found inside the nursery in Staley’s home. Basse testified that she tested the sheet for the presence of blood, and it tested presumptively positive for human blood. Basse testified that she was able to confirm the presence of human blood. A sample was then taken and sent to the DNA lab for further analysis.

3:34 p.m. — Prosecutor Lisa Tanner had Audrey Basse examine a white t-shirt with dark brown stains on the shoulder. This was the shirt worn by Amber McDaniel when Wilder’s body was found. A test on the stains returned a presumptive positive result for human blood. Parts of the t-shirt were then cut and sent for further DNA analysis.

3:31 p.m. — Prosecutor Lisa Tanner had Audrey Basse examine a swab that was received after it was taken from a stain that was found on a pink and white chair in the room where Wilder’s body was found. Basse testified that she performed a test in which a chemical is applied to the swab, and if human blood is present, the color will change. She testified the color did not change, meaning it is possible the stain on the chair was not human blood.

3:29 p.m. — Audrey Basse testified that the buckle swabs received from Amber McDaniel and James Staley remain in the lab at SWIFS to preserve them. Both swabs have previously been admitted into evidence. Both swabs were analyzed at the SWIFS laboratory.

3:26 p.m. — Audrey Basse testifies that she is not a DNA analyst, but rather she determines whether human blood is present.

3:22 p.m. — Prosecutor Lisa Tanner questioned Audrey Basse about the process by which she performs presumptive tests for the presence of human blood on items found at a crime scene.

The State, represented by Prosecutor Lisa Tanner, calls Audrey Basse of the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas, Texas.

Judge Everett Young states the court is back on the record, calls the jury to return to the courtroom, and asks counsel for the State and the defense if they’re ready to proceed. Both counsels affirm they’re ready to proceed.

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Judge Everett Young excuses the witness. Judge Everett Young dismisses the jury, then the gallery. Testimony is set to resume following a short recess. 

3:04 p.m. — Prosecutor LIsa Tanner asked Dr. Hastings to again list the reasons Wilder’s death was suspicious of a homicide. He said, “Abrasions on the lips, contusions on the forehead, multiple areas of subscapular hemorrhaging, hemorrhaging of the neck, and bruising on the arms. Also, there was blood in the crib and a child on the floor with no explanation.” Dr. Hastings then testified that there was no natural reason that Wilder should’ve died on October 11, 2018.

3:00 p.m. — Prosecutor Lisa Tanner asked how long it would take to smother a child of Wilder’s age. Dr. Hastings said it would vary.

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Defense attorney Mark Daniel passes the witness back to the State for further questioning. 

2:59 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel asked Dr. Hastings if any new information has caused him to change his opinion. Dr. Hastings testified there has not been any reason for him to change his opinion.

2:58 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel said, there are a lot of signs of a smothering death, and “all we have here is petechiae”. Dr. Hastings then listed off several other signs present during Wilder’s autopsy that gave him reason to believe a homicidal smothering could be a possible cause of death.

2:56 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel referenced a manual from a well-known authority on forensic pathology concerning signs of a smothering death. Dr. Hastings agreed with some of his assessments and disagreed with others.

2:52 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel asked if a damaged frenulum has significance in determining smothering as a cause of death. Dr. Hastings agreed but said it occurs rarely.

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Prosecutor Lisa Tanner passes the witness to the defense team for further cross-examination. 

2:50 p.m. — Prosecutor Lisa Tanner asked Dr. Hastings if it is his opinion that Wilder was murdered. Dr. Hastings said it is his opinion that a homicide occurred in the case of Wilder’s death.

2:49 p.m. — Dr. Hastings testified that it is still his opinion that some of the injuries on Wilder are consistent with a struggle.

2:48 p.m. — Dr. Hastings testified again to the findings of his report. “After a complete autopsy, including toxicology, microbiology, histology, and review of all available investigative information, the cause and manner of death for Jason Wilder McDaniel cannot be determined with certainty. The autopsy findings are consistent with an asphyxial death…” Dr. Hastings continued, saying, “The scene information is irregular and highly suspicious of a homicidal death.”

2:45 p.m. — Dr. Hastings testified that most cases of smothering don’t show significant external findings to speak of. He said it’s difficult to study and it’s difficult to diagnose. Dr. Hastings testified that he previously stated that suffocation leaves very little evidence, and, according to prior testimony, said if a bad actor wanted to murder a child and leave as little evidence as possible, smothering is the way to go.

2:42 p.m. — Dr. Hastings testified that during interviews with WFPD’s Detective Chad Nelson, in fact, Dr. Hastings asked questions about the scene where Wilder’s body was found. He testified that more petechiae were present in Wilder’s case than you would expect to see in natural death.

2:40 p.m. — Dr. Hastings reaffirms his testimony that a fractured frenulum is not necessary for a suffocation death. He said in a minority of cases, you might see a fractured frenulum, but you more than likely would not see it. Dr. Hastings also testified that mouth injuries tend to bleed very profusely.

2:38 p.m. — Dr. Hastings testified that it’s extremely common for other medical professionals, like experts on child abuse, to participate in meetings with medical examiners in the case of a child’s death.

2:35 p.m. — Prosecutor Lisa Tanner asked Dr. Hastings about what kind of information he would consider important for readdressing the undetermined cause of death. Dr. Hastings testified that prior relationship evidence of the victim could be relevant. Tanner asked Dr. Hastings if Wichita County officials were just giving him what he had asked for, and Dr. Hastings said yes.

2:33 p.m. — Prosecutor Lisa Tanner questioned Dr. Hastings about meetings during which medical examiners at SWIFS discuss their current cases.

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Defense attorney Mark Daniel passes the witness back to the State for further questioning. 

2:31 p.m. — Dr. Hastings testifies that a judge or Justice of the Peace does not have to put the medical examiner’s findings in their cause of death. The decision of what goes on a death certificate does not involve the medical examiner’s opinion.

2:29 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel admits Jason Wilder McDaniel’s death certificate into evidence. A judge in Wichita County wrote the cause of Wilder’s death as undetermined.

2:27 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel continues to point to a single sentence in a 29-page article published regarding determining a cause of death. Daniel continues to point out this sentence, and Dr. Hastings continues to notify Daniel that he is taking the sentence out of context.

2:25 p.m. — Dr. Hastings testifies that he did not have clear and convincing evidence that Wilder’s death was a homicide, which lead to his determination of an undetermined cause of death.

2:21 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel began writing on an easel with paper upon it, which Prosecutor Lisa Tanner objected to. Daniel continued to write, causing Tanner to raise her voice for him to stop writing until the judge gave a ruling on the objection. Tanner said it was improper cross-examination. Judge Everett Young sustains the objection.

2:17 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel questioned Dr. Hastings about whether an injury found on Wilder’s head was “extensive” according to his report. Dr. Hastings confirmed he called the injury extensive in his report, and patchy in another section of his report.

2:15 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel presented a textbook with an opinion of a recognized medical examiner that injury to the face or cheeks would be consistent with smothering. Dr. Hastings testified that several other textbooks and sources would disagree with that statement, including himself.

2:13 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel asked Dr. Hastings if he found any injuries on Wilder’s face that might be consistent with a large amount of pressure on the face during suffocation or smothering deaths. Dr. Hastings expanded, testifying that typically, facial injuries are not common during suffocation or smothering deaths.

2:10 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel asked Dr. Hastings if he found any fluid in Wilder’s lungs during the autopsy. Dr. Hastings said there wasn’t a large amount of fluid found in the lungs.

2:07 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel asked Dr. Hastings if the injuries on the internal tissue of Wilder’s neck were consistent with a choking death, and Dr. Hastings testified the injuries found inside Wilder’s internal neck were not consistent with choking.

2:03 p.m. — Dr. Hastings testified he did not find any evidence of external injury to Wilder’s neck during his autopsy.

1:59 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel admits several pieces of evidence and hands them to the jury for them to pass among each other. They have to do with the size of abrasions found in Wilder’s mouth.

1:53 p.m. — Dr. Hastings testified that he cannot determine the cause of the petechiae present on Wilder’s body during the autopsy.

1:52 p.m. — Dr. Hastings testified that rigor mortis is an inaccurate measure to determine the time of death. He testified that in fact, rigor mortis can begin immediately after death in the case of a struggle. He also testified that decomposition begins immediately and continues following death.

1:48 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel again asks if petechiae prove asphyxial deaths in and of themselves. Dr. Hastings testifies again that they do not.

1:45 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel discusses petechiae with Dr. Hastings. Dr. Hastings testifies that decomposition, attempted CPR, and even vomiting could cause petechiae. Dr. Hastings said petechiae is non-specific, meaning it is not solely caused by suffocation. Dr. Hastings was asked about finding petechiae on the eyeballs, and Daniel asked if it’s common to find petechiae on the eyeballs. Dr. Hastings testified that it is in fact rare to find petechiae on the eyeballs of a victim in suffocation cases.

1:42 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel asked Dr. Hastings if he was aware of the American Pediatric Association standard for height in regard to transitioning a child from a crib to a toddler bed. Dr. Hastings testified that he doesn’t deal with living subjects, and he wasn’t familiar with this standard.

1:41 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel discusses with Dr. Hastings the different possible causes of death, and Dr. Hastings testified that his medical opinion is that Wilder’s death was probably a smothering, but he doesn’t have enough clear evidence to definitively say Wilder’s death was a homicide.

1:39 p.m. — Dr. Hastings testified again that the cause of death was undetermined, and the manner of death was undetermined, and there was unanimous agreement with several other pathologists at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences. This report was signed by the Chief Medical Examiner at SWIFS.

1:37 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel asks Dr. Hastings about whether he discussed his preliminary findings with Det. Nelson on October 15, 2018, and again on November 11, 2018. Dr. Hastings testified he didn’t recall if Det. Nelson was the lead detective on the case or not.

1:34 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel asks about the staffing of other pathologists at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences.

1:30 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel shows Dr. Hastings several exhibits which contain pictures of the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences. They are then admitted into evidence.

1:26 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel asked Dr. Hastings if injury or bite marks on the tongue are common in suffocation cases. Dr. Hastings said it’s rare, but it can occur in suffocation cases. Daniel asked if any injuries were found on Wilder’s tongue, and Dr. Hastings said there were no injuries found on Wilder’s tongue.

1:24 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel asks Dr. Hastings about the frenulum inside of Wilder McDaniel’s mouth, which was examined during the autopsy. Daniel asked if a torn frenulum is common in a suffocation case. Dr. Hastings testified he has found a torn frenulum in a small percentage of suffocation cases.

1:20 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel discusses the documentation process during an autopsy with Dr. Hastings. Daniel asks Dr. Hastings if he remembers a meeting over Microsoft Teams with several doctors with what he called “new information”, which Dr. Hastings said he did remember a meeting took place.

1:16 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel also brought up a report from a man named Everett Baxter that was between 30 and 50 pages long, which Dr. Hastings testified also did not change Dr. Hastings’s opinion that Wilder’s cause of death was undetermined.

1:15 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel alleged that Wichita County District Attorney John Gillespie gave Dr. Hastings and his boss, Dr. Bernard, a written transcript of an interview with Amber McDaniel, Wilder’s mother. Daniel asked if Dr. Hastings changed his opinion based on this and Dr. Hastings said no.

1:12 p.m. — Defense attorney Mark Daniel said the opinion is not just that of Dr. Hastings, but of the entire group of medical examiners at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Science in Dallas. Dr. Hastings agreed.

1:09 p.m. — The defense team for James Staley begins their cross-examination after the jury is summoned back into the courtroom by Judge Young. Defense attorney Mark Daniel asked Dr. Hastings if his opinion of the cause of Wilder’s death is undetermined, and if it’s been that opinion for over four years. Dr. Hastings said yes to both.

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Judge Everett Young dismissed the court into recess. Cross-examination of Dr. Hastings will take place when testimony resumes at around 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon.

11:55 a.m. — Prosecutor Lisa Tanner asked Dr. Hastings if any of his autopsy findings were consistent with Wilder falling out of his crib, and Dr. Hastings said no. With that, Tanner passed the witness to the defense.

11:52 a.m. — Prosecutor Lisa Tanner reviews Dr. Hastings’ testimony before a grand jury. Dr. Hastings testified that his opinion, despite his findings on Wilder’s cause of death being undetermined, is that Wilder was indeed murdered.

11:49 a.m. — A photograph of Wilder’s scalp and skull shows no major injuries to Wilder’s skull, but several areas of hemorrhages appear on Wilder’s scalp. Dr. Hastings testified that he found no corresponding injuries in those areas on Wilder’s skull.

11:47 a.m. — A photograph of Wilder’s left eye shows a larger area of petechiae, a finding Dr. Hastings testified is significant.

11:43 a.m — A very graphic photo of the inside of Wilder’s neck is shown. Dr. Hastings pointed out several areas of dark purple along the internal muscle tissue, noting those as hemorrhages. A photo of the inside of Wilder’s chest is shown, which also contains the dark purple areas of discoloration, noting them as areas of petechiae or hemorrhages.

11:40 a.m. — Dr. Hastings testified that he has seen petechiae multiple times during the course of conducting autopsies. Dr. Hastings said that in Wilder’s case, “a lot” of petechiae can be found.

11:37 a.m. — Dr. Hastings pointed out several areas of petechiae on Wilder’s head and face, and reiterated that these are important, albeit nonspecific findings.

11:34 a.m. — Dr. Hastings continued to review photos taken during Wilder’s autopsy, showing abrasions to Wilder’s lips. Dr. Hastings continued to point out and explain the injuries to the jury. Members of Wilder McDaniel’s family have either left the courtroom or are looking away as autopsy photos continue to be shown.

11:27 a.m. — Dr. Hastings reviews photos taken during Wilder’s autopsy that are shown to the jury. Several things are noted, many of which Dr. Hastings testified that are not relevant in determining Wilder’s cause of death.

11:16 a.m. — Dr. Hastings testified that many of the autopsy findings in an asphyxial death are non-specific, and Dr. Hastings would need more clear and convincing evidence to rule the case a homicide.

11:11 a.m. — Dr. Hastings testified that despite an undetermined ruling in the autopsy, it’s ultimately up to the jury to decide whether or not it should be considered a murder. Dr. Hastings said the manner of death does not automatically determine whether there should be criminal charges. Dr. Hastings said even in the case of an undetermined ruling, he is open to additional evidence.

11:06 a.m. — Dr. Hastings testified the ruling he made after Wilder’s autopsy was undetermined, with further explanation. In the notes, Dr. Hastings found that Wilder’s death was very, very suspicious for a smothering death or another asphyxial death.

11:01 a.m. — Dr. Hastings testified that no histology findings during Wilder’s autopsy were able to point to a cause of death.

10:59 a.m. — Dr. Hastings testified that the toxicology report on Wilder came back showing no drugs or alcohol were present, even from over-the-counter medicines. Dr. Hastings said there were no causes of death that could be found in Wilder’s toxicology report.

10:58 a.m. — Dr. Hastings testified that there were no diseases present, no heart defects, or any other defects that could’ve caused his death. Dr. Hastings testified that there was no natural explanation for Wilder’s death.

10:57 a.m. — Dr. Hastings testified that an x-ray was performed on Wilder’s body during the autopsy. He testified that no signs of old fractures or breaks were present. He said no signs that were consistent with a fall were found during Wilder’s autopsy.

10:55 a.m. — Dr. Hastings testified that Wilder McDaniel had no skull fractures, brain contusions, brain swelling, or brain hemorrhaging, all of which you’d expect to see if the death was caused by a fall.

10:52 a.m. — Dr. Hastings testified about the internal injuries found during Wilder’s autopsy. He noted multiple areas of hemorrhages on the right side of the forehead. Dr. Hastings testified he knew that Wilder was found on the floor by his crib, so the autopsy was important to determine if he could rule out or rule in a fall as the cause of death.

10:49 a.m. — Dr. Hastings testified that petechiae were found in the eyes and on the face. Dr. Hastings noted some bruisings on Wilder’s extremities as well as on Wilder’s head. Dr. Hastings noted a small abrasion on Wilder’s head. Dr. Hastings testified that when this case was presented to him, it was a potential homicide.

10:45 a.m. — Dr. Hastings noted to the jury that Wilder had very prominent petechiae, and said it was “certainly very suspicious for an asphyxial death.”

10:44 a.m. — Dr. Hastings explains petechiae to the jury as ruptured vessels. They can often be non-specific findings, and there are plenty of innocent explanations. Dr. Hastings explains there are also non-innocent explanations for petechiae, such as strangulation and smothering deaths, “such as placing a pillow over someone’s face.”

10:42 a.m. — Prosecutor Lisa Tanner asked Dr. Hastings about the bruises on Wilder’s body. Dr. Hastings said the bruising found on Wilder’s body wasn’t consistent with any of the child abuse cases he’s seen in the past.

10:39 a.m. — Dr. Hastings continued to expand upon his findings during his initial observation of Wilder McDaniel’s body. He noted the injuries to the inside of Wilder’s lips.

10:35 a.m. — Dr. Hastings testified that nothing about Wilder’s body jumped out at him initially as a cause of death. He testified that the presence of petechiae was the first thing that caught his attention, but it wasn’t an obvious indicator of a cause of death.

10:32 a.m. — Dr. Hastings testified that he performed the autopsy on Jason Wilder McDaniel in December 2018. Dr. Hastings testified that he was in a diaper when he was presented. He said Wilder weight 34 pounds and was 38 inches tall at the time his autopsy was performed.

10:25 a.m. — Prosecutor Lisa Tanner asks Dr. Hastings the number of autopsies he’s performed, and Dr. Hastings answered that he’s conducted around 3,000 autopsies in his career. He then clarifies the differences between types of death.

10:20 a.m. — The State, represented by Prosecutor Lisa Tanner, call Dr. Stephen Hastings, a medical examiner from the Southwest Institute of Forensic Science in Dallas, Texas, to take the stand.

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10:19 a.m. — Gillespie asks Bea Staley if her brother is manipulative, and she says, “Yes.” With that, the witness is dismissed.

The defense passes the witness back to the State.

10:17 a.m. — Defense attorney Terri Moore asked Staley’s sister if they are estranged. She responds that she will always love her brother. Moore asks Bea Staley if she’s writing a book about “her messed-up childhood” and if this court appearance would be a “good chapter” for the book.

The State passes the witness to defense attorney Terri Moore.

10:14 a.m. — Gillespie asks Bea Staley’s sister to read a group text exchange that includes James Staley. Staley is aggressive toward his sister. It is apparent they are estranged. The text exchange ends with Staley saying, “Your response. is actually worse than asphyxiating.”

10:06 a.m. — Wichita County District Attorney John Gillespie calls Bea Staley to the stand. When asked to state her name for the jury, she bursts into tears. She testified that James Staley is her older brother.

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This is a developing story. Stick with Texoma’s Homepage for updates as the capital murder trial of James Staley in connection to Wilder McDaniel’s death takes place at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in Fort Worth, Texas.